Great Wall Motors’ Ora brand has unveiled its latest electric model in the United Kingdom, an unnamed premium saloon with a range of nearly 500 kilometres.
Ora, the electric passenger marque of Chinese automotive giant Great Wall Motors (GWM), this week officially revealed the unnamed electric premium saloon in the UK.
GWM Ora only recently launched into the UK market with its Ora Funky Cat First Edition, which went on sale in November. The bubbly Funky Cat evokes the design of memorable British cars like the Mini with an intentional “retro-futuristic” design and boasts an electric range of 310 kilometres (WLTP).
The next EV from Ora to go on sale in the UK will be a premium saloon, maintaining that bubbly styling while still echoing the elongated lines of a luxury saloon.
While no name has been attached to the new EV as of yet, Ora has confirmed that the car will feature an electric range of over 480km (WLTP) and will be available in both 2WD and 4WD powertrain options.
The four-wheel-drive option will be capable of delivering around 400PS and torque of 680Nm, delivering acceleration of 0-100km/h in just over 4.4 seconds.
Ora also expects to be able to offer the new model with premium features as standard including a large glass panoramic roof, synthetic leather seats, and multi-colour ambient interior lighting.
Pricing is similarly unknown at this point, but Ora did say that this next model “is already on sale in China and has been since late 2022.” Nevertheless, Ora has promised that “pricing and specification of the brands new model will be competitive to brands like Tesla, Hyundai and Kia.”
Reservations for the new Ora EV in the UK were initially made available at the Fully Charged Live show held over the weekend in the UK. It is unclear when reservations will be open for the general public, but Ora is expecting the car to go on sale in the first quarter of 2024.
“The reveal of our next premium electric vehicle in the UK is a really momentous occasion for the brand,” said Toby Marshall, managing director of GWM ORA UK.
“It signals the high level of commitment and investment from GWM ORA to establish itself as a leader in multiple segments across the UK. We always knew our first model, ORA Funky Cat, was just the start. There are lots more exciting things to come.”
Joshua S. Hill is Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.
